Recommendation 1:

The Committee recommends that the Privy Council Office and Treasury Board Secretariat enter into a service agreement with the Parliamentary Budget Officer on information-sharing to enable him to obtain the information that he needs, as an independent officer of Parliament, to assess the potential impact of the operating budget freeze on services to the public while preserving the confidentiality that is essential for the Cabinet of Canada to operate effectively.

Recommendation 2:

The Committee recommends that, for greater transparency, Treasury Board Secretariat ask public service departments and agencies to explain in their Report on Plans and Priorities 2011‑2012 how they will meet the targets relating to the operating budget freeze.

Recommendation 3:

The Committee recommends that the Privy Council Office provide Parliament with a detailed estimate of the costs associated with the Truth in Sentencing Act, the costs associated with any other major change to the Criminal Code, as well as the costs to be paid by the provinces and territories.

Recommendation 4:

The Committee recommends that the Treasury Board Secretariat develop an asymmetrical approach in implementing the operating budget freeze that takes into account the special challenges facing small agencies.